Would you beleive this?

[John47]

JAKARTA: Wings Air passengers were baffled on Monday when the aircraft that took them from Jakarta landed in a deserted airport after the cabin crew announced they were arriving in Padang, West Sumatra, just on schedule.

Although the recent air disaster that killed 150 people in the neighboring Medan was still on the mind of the 130 passengers, they did not panic because the MD-82 aircraft touched down perfectly.

Still, they were confused when informed they had just landed on the wrong airport, Tabing Airport, which was closed on July 21, following the opening of the new Minangkabau International Airport elsewhere in Padang outskirts.

The aircraft soon took off again with the cabin crew assuring everybody on board that nothing was to worry about the aircraft.

A passenger, Syahrial, said he heard the pilot tell the air traffic control tower of the Minangkabau airport that the runway was in perfect view and ready to touch down. And the tower controller told the pilot to go ahead.

A Minangkabau Airport spokesman Youhanes Gaffar said the incident happened because of bad weather and disruption of the aircraft's navigational system.

"Apparently a passenger used his or her mobile phone when the aircraft was ready to land," he was quoted by Kompas daily as saying.--JP

http://www.thejakartapost.com/yesterdaydetail.asp?fileid=20050914.A08

[catchup]

In todays world, possible....;)

[eal401]

A passenger, Syahrial, said he heard the pilot tell the air traffic control tower of the Minangkabau airport that the runway was in perfect view and ready to touch down. And the tower controller told the pilot to go ahead.
He must have good hearing then! :p

[Wizofoz]

"Apparently a passenger used his or her mobile phone when the aircraft was ready to land,"

B:mad: IT!!!!

[Farrell]

Yeah this sounds like a load.....

[HotDog]

Not an uncommon occurence. Several well known airlines have landed at RAF Changi instead of Paya Lebar in Singapore, before Changi became the international airport. Same thing in Dubai and Sharja. Runways on same alingments, just a few miles apart.:{

[er340790]

A classic example of seeing what you want to see, and not what you are actually seeing.

[gofer]

No need to go that far LHR and Northolt have been muddled up - just goes to show that a good GPS should never be far from hand.:O :ok:

[Dirty Mach]

Didn't those chaps from across the pond do a flypast in a B52 at Blackbushe instead of Farnborough this year? I guess anyone can do it... ONCE!

[Final 3 Greens]

Why is this post on here?

Its of little relevance to SLF.

[bealine]

Why is this post on here?

I suppose many of our Forum Regulars in the SLF category are also interested in Aviation and Aviation topics! Looking through the Forum Categories, there isn't really an alternative section to which this topic could be attributed!

To continue with the topic, I recall a few years ago the Space Shuttle "Columbia" visiting the UK. We had a lounge full of people (as our flat overlooked Runway 28R at Heathrow) as the 747 with her piggy-back flew at 20ft above the runway.

We were aghast at the radio traffic. ATC told the skipper "Climb to Flight Level 1 and continue present heading to Tower Bridge"

Back came the response " Our Flight Plan says London Bridge. Please confirm TOWER Bridge Over".

ATC responded immediately "Columbia - We repeat Flight Level 1. Continue present heading to TOWER BRIDGE, TOWER BRIDGE - PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE!"

"SHOOT!" Came the response from Columbia "Us Yanks call Tower Bridge "London Bridge". Yeah, right! Flight Level 1 continue present heading to Tower Bridge!"

......English and Americans - Same Language only, somehow, different!!!

[PPRuNe Radar]

[pedant mode]

Flight Level 1 is 100' ... and operating below 6000' in the London area the aircraft would be given a clearance at an altitude and not a Flight Level (which could actually be below Ground depending on the air pressure on the day).

[pedant mode off]

;)

[bealine]

I stand corrected! Indeed, if I remember correctly, Columbia flew over Central London at an altitude of about 2 or 3 hundred feet to enable by-standers to get a good view!

It was quite memorable - even if the exact ATC conversation wasn't (we didn't have hand-held digital recorders in those days - all I had was a cheapo Air Band receiver!)
However, I do remember the precise, clipped tone of the Heathrow controller and the altercation concerning "London Bridge" and "Tower Bridge"! - Indeed, that same misunderstanding cost the Americans dearly a few years earlier when they bought that horrible, grey monstrosity thinking they were getting the graceful, opening spans!!!

[Globaliser]

bealine: ... a few years ago ... our flat overlooked Runway 28R at HeathrowDefinitely a few years ago, then! Are we both showing our age? :D

[bealine]

Affirmative, I'm afraid Globaliser! (I'd like to believe it was a few years ago, but it was a few years before the M25 was finished!!!)

[ZFT]

They’ve finished the M25?